How to Help Someone Going Through Addiction Recovery

Helping someone through addiction recovery is a great way to help people through this rough period in their lives. There are many types of people who make a career out of this endeavor for a variety of different reasons. However, when helping a loved one through these times, there are a few tips that can facilitate their recovery process and make life easier on the person doing the helping as well.

The very first thing that someone should know when helping someone through their addiction is simply knowing the nature of addiction itself. Addiction takes over someone's mind to the point that they cannot imagine living without the substance. The substance fills a void in their lives that is ever expanding. Know what they are addicted to and the extent of their dependence.

One part of helping someone who is dependent upon substance abuse is that they will lie when confronted about their problems. This is because they are ashamed of themselves, don't think they have a problem, they don't want to stop, or they are in straight up denial. Don't believe anything they say and make sure that they know their situation needs to be corrected at all costs.

Remember that dealing with an addict is like dealing with a spoiled child. They will lie, steal, throw tantrums, and do other immature acts to enable them to get the drugs they want. By setting up solid guidelines of what is and is not acceptable, a person can start funneling a person's dependence upon narcotics, alcohol, or sex toward the help that they most assuredly need.

Another big step in this process is not enabling a person to be addicted by helping them in any way, shape, or form. Do not give them money, a place to sleep, food, rides, or any other help because it allows them to save money to be spent on addictive substances. This is the hardest thing to do, especially when it's a loved one who suffers from dependence, but it is necessary to getting them help.

Addiction recovery starts when the person who is dependent upon substances wants to quit themselves. Without this fundamental step, the healing process will not be able to stick and a person will most likely relapse. To help people get to this place, know the addiction, set up guidelines, stick to your guns, and do not enable anyone any longer. They will thank you after all is said and done.